Wrench.



f UNrrnn STATES Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

1 WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,035, dated April19, 1904. Application led March 19, 1902. Serial No. 98,951. (No model.)

` `IO wrenches ordinarilyhaving diverging jaws,

one of which is provided with asliding gripping-piece designed to movetoward the narrower part of the space between the jaws when under thewrenching force, thus approaching l I5 theopposing jaw to increase thegripping pressure on the object to be turned and to 2 vprevent thewrench from slipping. In such devices as heretofore made the. grippingforce is without positive limit, depending on the 2O resistance of theobject to turning, the length of the wrench-handle, and the forceapplied to it. Vifhen the resistance to turning is very great, butrmustbe overcome, the gripping force of such wrenches increases with theforce 2S applied to the wrench-handle, and to a degree unnecessary for atirm grip, often becoming destructive ,to the object by denting,crushing,

or bending before the resistance to turning is overcome. p

It is an important object of this invention to positively'limit thegripping force, irrespective of the turning force and resistance,A

and to furnish means lfor limiting the gripping force so as to make 1taccord to the uses towhich the wrench is to be put.

The invention consists in certain features of l i Y.construction andoperation by which the strength of the wrench and its readiness and leiiiciency in use are improved, and especially 4Q any denting, crushing,or bending of the objectgripped prevented', as is hereinafter set th i,the accompanying drawings is shown a euch embodying the improvement inits referred form; but it will be understood that .such fieri-n may bevaried in many details with- `outdeparting from theessential features ofthe invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wrench embodyingthe invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the movable gripping partremoved. Fig. 3 is ya longitudinal sectional view of a portion of thewrench on line 3 3, Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4 4.,Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a Jfront view of 55 the head ot' the wrench. Fig. 6 isa perspective view of the gripping or sliding jaw-piece.

Referring to the drawings, C is a handlelever, and A and B the jaws ofthe wrench. The operative faces of the jaws are inclined toward eachother at any suitable angle, the median line of which may be at anydesired angle to the median line of the handle C. The jaws arepreferably made of steel, and the jaw A is formed with teeth a. Formedlongitudinally in the inner face of the jaw B is an undercut recess orgroove D, the cross-section of which is preferably the greater part of acircle, as shown in Fig. 5. The sliding gripping-piece is composed of agrip-piece F and 7o a rib Gr, which is formed with or attached to saidpiece, is longitudinal to the same, and is oi' the same cross-section asthe groove D. The grip-piece F is mounted on the jaw B to slide inwardand outward within certain limits in directions inclined toward andfrorn'the opposing jaw and is guided and heldin place by the rib G,which has a neat sliding it in the groove D. A f

E is an aperture which passes through the jaw B at an angle with thegroove D and preferably in a plane that longitudinally bisects saidgroove. Said aperture is screw-threaded to admit the screw N, whichturns into and out from the groove D. To accommodate said screw, the ribG is cut away to leave an opening or recess H, which is large enough toallow slight longitudinall movements to the sliding gripping-piece indirections inclined toward and from the opposing jaw, which movementsmay be shortened or lengthened by turning said screw. This arrangementprevents the rib G from being disengaged from the groove. i

It is evident that shortening the motions or' 95 the sliding grippingpiece diminishes the amount of gripping force possible under anywrenching force that may be applied. Stops for the gripping movement maybe formed in several ways, provided they be properly adjustable oradjusted, though it will be understood that some features of theinvention are independent of such adjustment. To limit the outwardmovement of the grip-piece F and determine the normal or initialposition of the same, 1 prefer to use the screw N, which forms anadjustable stop by which the play of the sliding gripping-piece mayeasily be regulated. The inward movement of the grippiece F is arrestedby a positive stop L on the wrench-body or .on the jaw B, situated closeto the inner end of the piece when the latter is in its extreme outerposition, so as to be within operative stopping distance of the same,the movement of which should be Very slight.

The screw is so mounted and related' tothe other parts thatt can beadjusted inward and upward far enough to hold the sliding piece F firmlyin its inner position, and the tool can in suchacase be employed when itis desired to have no outward yielding of the sliding piece. The screwis of such length as to permit it to be used to press the sliding pieceinto the last point of its inward travel when desired. 1t will also beseen that by having the adjustable stop arranged as it is--namely, onlines inclined to the travel of the sliding piecemthe necessity ofentirely withdrawing the screw or adjustable stop when it is desired todetach or remove the sliding piece is avoided.

vWhile the plate F may he caused to drop to its outer .position bygravity or may he moved by hand before applying the wrench to its woriz,it is preferable to provide a spring for this purpose, which is shown atS,

'fitted in the inner part of the groove l) and operates in a well-knownmanner.

The inner end portion or edge of the piece F is shaped, as shown at f,to conform with the shape of the stop L, such shape of L bcing the bestfor strength. i

lt will be observed that the means for mounting and adjusting thegripping-plate are all within the wrench in such manner as not to formprojections or increase its thickness or interfere with its insertioninto and use in narrow spaces or confined situations.

1t will be understood that many matters of construction Iherein shown,however-'suitable or advisable, are not absolutely essential, such asthe degree of angle'between the jaw'sfthe angle at which the handlelstands relative to the jaws, the mode of connecting the jaws andhandle, (which may be by forging, casting, welding, or by attachment,fixed, movable or adjustable,) the position of space H, screw N, and ofaperture E, and the shape of .groove D, rib G, and space H.

In using the Wrench a slight movement of the handle will bring thesliding gripping piece to its final holding position with a firm grip onthe object to be turned, which grip however, is not increased in forceor converted into any destructive pressure by the further movement ofthe handle. The wrench is released with equal facility by a littlemovement ofthe handle in the opposite direction.l

1. In a wrench, the combination of the two opposing jaws, a handle forturning the jaws, 'a gripping-piece mounted on one of said jaws andmovable along the same on lines inclined to the opposing jaw, anadjustable stop for l said movable gripping-piece mounted in its jaw andadapted, while so mounted, to permit the detachment of the movable gripping-piece and ad justablc to either of several active positions tovary the limit of travel of the movable gripping-piece, substantially asset forth. 2Q In a wrench, the combination ofgtwo opposing jaws, ahandle for turning the same, a gripping-piece movably mounted on one ofsaid jaws and having a stop-shoulder situated at an angle to the linesof movement of the gripping-piece, and a stop-screw mounted in the lastsaid jaw and movable longitudinally on lines inclined to the path of themovable vgripping-piece, and adapted, while in mounted position, eitherto stop the sliding piece at one or another point in its path or t'opermit the detachment of said sliding piece, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of two opposing jaws, a handle for turning the same,a movable gripping-piece mounted on one of the said jaws, an adjustablestop mounted in the last said jaw. and movable on lines inclined to thepath of the said sliding piece, and shoulders on the sliding piece, oneinside and the other outside of the adjustable stop, substantially asset forth. f 4. ln a wrench, the combination of two opposingl jaws, ahandle for turningr the-same, a sliding gripping-piece mounted on one ofsaid jaws, a iixed stop for the inward movement of the slidinggripping-piece, and an adjusting-screw for said gripping-piece mountedin its jaw and adapted, while so mounted, to per- TOO IOS

mit the detachment of the said gripping-piece and adjustable to movesaid gripping-piece to the iixed stop and there secure it, substantiallyas set forth. 7 v

5. 1n a wrench, the combination of the two opposing jaws', a handleforthe same, a sliding, gripping-piece having a depending rib seated in agroovein one of said jaws and movable longitudinally therein, said ribhaving a recess H, and an adjustable stop mounted in said -jaw andadapted to be adjusted relative y. to the said nbtch H to vary the limitot' travel of the moving gri pping-piece, su hstantially as (3. ln a.Wrench, the combination of the two notch H to vary the limit of travelof the gripoppi'ising jaws, one of the same being provided ping-piece,substantially as set forth. IO with a groove, a handle for turning thejaws, In testimony wner-eofl ax mysignature in a gippingpiece having arib seated in the presence of two witnesses.

.groove in the said jaw and removable longitu- ALTER H. W. BEECHER.

dinally therefrom, said rib having a recess H, VitnesseS: and anadjustable stop mounted in the said jaw (ino. EVANS, and adapted tobeadjusted relaiive to said B. '.l`-. ENOS, Jr.

